Secular Buddhism is not a ‘school’ of Buddhism

It has no orthodoxy, no separate canon and no institutional presence.

A secular space is generally one that is open and tolerant, and does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, gender, ability, beliefs or faith. It doesn’t require that we adopt metaphysical beliefs or get involved in activities that are generally associated with religion, Buddhist or otherwise, such as chanting or praying.

A secular dharma stands for a developmental direction that is typically Buddhist in its open-minded scepticism and its desire to let the dharma speak most effectively, that is in culturally available terms.

Focusing largely on early Buddhism, with an emphasis on the teachings of conditionality (known also as dependent origination), and the four great tasks (sometimes called the fourfold task) that Gotama – the man we know as the Buddha – set out, the practice of meditation and a secular dharma offers a framework for a more mindful, ethical and compassionate life.

Awakening in the context in which we find ourselves – 21st century Aotearoa New Zealand – this framework is in essence a pragmatic programme for human flourishing which allows us to ignore metaphysical beliefs and religious truth-claims.

[Secular Buddhism is] trying to switch the focus from traditional religious concerns, away from post-mortem existence or non-existence, and attending exclusively to the suffering that we experience in this world, on this planet that is circling this sun where human beings and other forms of life have evolved over millions of years and, as far as we know, it’s the only place in the universe like this.

— Stephen Batchelor

As a community, a group of friends, we are developing forms of practice, community and thought that harmonise with our own culture and its more progressive values – kicking off with egalitarianism, inclusiveness and democratic self-rule; Wellington’s secular Buddhist community in fact.

The Buddha’s Four Great Tasks1 - Embrace LIFE2 - Let Go of instinctive reactivity3 - SEE THE StopPING of that reactivity4 - Act, respond, say

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Gratitude to Nick Hughes for creating this website, to Sotonian Jim ChampionandUnsplash for most of the lovely images, as well as to everyone who’s put a contribution in the box at an event and supports us through Aotearoa Buddhist Education Trust, enabling us to offer the teachings and experience of the practice without a fixed fee.Thanks also to all those who book the rooms, put out the chairs, welcome people, bring tea & bikkies, clear up at the end of a session, answer your texts, calls and emails, look after the community’s funds, take part in our care committee, and so much more. Words and spaces corralled by Ramsey Margolis.